by Niall Murray | May 24, 2016 | Career, Engineering and Technical, Medical Technology
The medical technology industry affords great opportunities for qualified professionals across a broad range of disciplines. Engineering We have seen a strong demand nationally for a range of engineering professionals; process engineers, lean six sigma engineers, quality engineers, validation engineers, manufacturing engineers, NPD engineers, automation engineers, process design engineers, and polymer engineers are all sought after. Salaries in this sector have been relatively stable over the last 12 months, with a small number of pay increases in certain niche areas. Demand for engineers will remain strong over the next few years. This steady demand for engineering skills will lead to certain pressure points in supply as the industry continues to grow, but the output of new engineers, the dispersed nature of the existing engineering talent, and the experience the Institutes of Technology have in servicing the demands of medical device multinationals, will ensure there is no critical shortage of engineering skills in the industry. Science Alongside these engineering skills there is an increased demand for biotechnology and pharmaceutical related skills. Personnel with qualifications in the biological sciences, chemistry and pharmacology are becoming more important as well. The convergence of different technologies with medical device products means that there is a demand for expertise in the areas of nanotechnology, software, ICT, maths, statistics, informatics and bioprocessing, and material science. There has been an increase in the pace of automation as the industry in Ireland shifts towards the production of more high value products. This requires greater training for employees in the industry, and places more pressure on 3rd level institutes to produce the necessary volume of graduates. Overall, this will drive up the quality of employment in the industry and increase Ireland’s competitiveness internationally. ICT ICT skills are playing an increasing role in the medical device industry, particularly in the area of connected health. Government efforts to increase the ICT graduate output have been very successful, but the rapidly expanding incorporation of ICT into other industries means that a greater increase in graduate output is required in order to keep pace with this rise in demand. The government sponsored Springboard programme offered 21 ICT conversion courses in 2014, and is providing a further 42 courses in the 2015/16 academic year, which should help address the demand for ICT professionals. Springboard also provided 14 medtech courses in 2014/15. In addition to the demand for the major technical skills, highly qualified staff are also needed in support functions such as regulatory affairs, HR, finance, ICT, and sales. Irish third level institutes will be able to match demand for these skill sets going forward. Graduates Sustained efforts at encouraging STEM careers and the provision of conversion courses should ensure there are sufficient numbers of graduates. CAO Level 8 first preference applications for STEM courses, which include science, engineering, computing and construction, have increased by 18% over the 5 years since 2010. Individually there has been a 23.9% rise in engineering applications, a 47.6% rise in computing applications, a 17.2% rise in science applications, and a drop of 36.1% in construction applications. This increase in STEM applications has been ongoing since 2007 but there are still minor shortages in certain disciplines. CAO application trends suggest that this will abate over the next few years. The government are devising a new apprenticeship programme in consultation with industry to provide more skilled professionals at technician level. This will further bolster the supply of qualified personnel for the medical device industry. Conclusion The medical device industry affords excellent opportunities for graduates and experienced professionals across a range of disciplines. Salaries are competitive and employment opportunities can be found in every region of the country. Medical device companies can expect a good supply of graduates over the next few years and professionals will experience an expanding range of job opportunities and the industry continues to grow. Niall Murray, Managing Director Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services...Read More
by Niall Murray | Apr 18, 2016 | Engineering and Technical, Industry, Medical Technology
This is part 2 of our regional overview of the medical device industry in Ireland. Last week we looked at the West of Ireland, today we look at the South, South East and Midlands regions. South Cork has significant expertise in orthopaedic technologies. Stryker, which manufactures orthopaedic implants, minimally invasive surgical equipment and neurovascular products, is the biggest medical device employer in Cork. Stryker are building a new 44,000 sq. ft. surgical innovation centre in Cork that will conduct research on the surgical issues of bone cutting and soft tissue dissection. Stryker employs 1,200 people across its 3 Irish sites, two of which are located in Cork. DePuy Synthes produces orthopaedic knees and hips from its Cork plant, employing over 600 people. This site also includes a global supply chain operation and an R&D Innovation Centre. Boston Scientific employs approximately 1,100 people in Cork and produces over 5,600 devices, primarily for their Cardiology, Rhythm and Vascular Group, Endoscopy, and Urology & Women’s Health Divisions. ‘ South East Waterford hosts contact lens manufacturer Bausch & Lomb and precision engineering company Schivo. Bausch & Lomb is investing €75 million to increase its manufacturing capacity. Nypro Healthcare announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art facility in Waterford, which will create more than 200 jobs manufacturing complex respiratory and injection devices. Clearstream in Enniscorthy, which was bought by CR Bard, has added 160 roles since 2011 and, after a significant capital investment in its facility, will have the capacity to add 200 more roles in the coming years. Boston Scientific employs over 700 people in Clonmel and manufactures all of their pacemakers and implantable defibrillators...Read More
by Niall Murray | Apr 14, 2016 | Industry, Irish Market, Medical Technology
Medical device companies are dispersed across Ireland. The presence of these companies throughout the country means that there is a steady supply of talent in every region, allowing medical device companies to easily set up a facility anywhere they choose. In part 1 of our regional overview of the medical technology industry in Ireland we take a look at the West of Ireland – encompassing the Midwest, West, and North West regions. West Galway is the most important medtech cluster in the country. It accounts for approximately 31% of all medical device employment. Galway has significant expertise in vascular technologies, which are dominated by Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Boston Scientific is the largest medical device employer in Ireland with a staff of more than 4,500 across 3 sites located in Clonmel, Cork, and Galway. Boston Scientific employs around 3,000 people in Galway. Medtronic has roughly 2,000 staff working at its Galway facility, including over 100 employees working in R&D. Other notable companies in Galway include Merit Medical, Creganna, Crospon, and Zimmer, Aerogen, Creganna (800 staff) Mayo has several large multinational medtech companies with manufacturing operations, including Baxter and Hollister. They produce renal dialysis equipment, and ostomy/continence care products respectively. Hollister has invested €80 million in its Ballina plant, which currently employs over 600 people. North West The North West is home to several large medtech companies. Abbott has a number of facilities in the region including Abbott Diabetes in Donegal, Abbott Diagnostics and Abbott Nutrition in Sligo, and Abbott Medical Optics in Mayo. with Irish owned Arrotek and Inblex Plastics based in Sligo. Multinationals B. Braun, Hospira, Amcor Flexibles, and...Read More
by Niall Murray | Mar 22, 2016 | CV, General Interest, Jobseeking
As a recruiter in an agency and in industry for many years, I have seen my fair share of CVs ranging from good to very poor. To me the ideal format is one that is easy to read with no unusual graphics. Most companies now use web based systems for uploading CVs – usually these systems don’t like elaborate graphics or photos. Word is the best format to use and PDF is best avoided. Ensure your contact details are correct. Ideally a CV should be kept to a minimum of 2 pages. It is always good to get a friend to proof read your CV. My motto is “the facts at a glance,” so keep it lean and avoid any unnecessary text. Here are my top tips for decluttering your CV: Use Microsoft Word, Times New Roman or Arial font in size 11 Avoid using photos or graphics Where possible avoid italics, use bold font in headings Avoid putting huge indents in text as this wastes valuable space Bullet points for responsibilities are ideal Avoid any typos or spelling mistakes Clear headings for each section help it flow better List any gaps in your CV, e.g. career break/traveling etc. By following these simple tips you should have a professional, well laid out CV to send to employers. Always ensure that you keep track of where you send your CV to avoid duplication. If an agency is sending your CV ensure that they have your permission and have provided you with a detailed job spec. For access to our CV and cover letter templates and all of the information you...Read More
by Niall Murray | Mar 1, 2016 | Event, General Interest
Collins McNicholas is delighted to announce that we have been officially recognised as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces 2016. This prestigious accolade was presented at the Great Place to Work Awards in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Dublin on Wednesday 24th February. The night itself was terrific. We were entertained by the wonderful A&L Goodbody choir as well as the inimitable Christy Dignam of Aslan. We were also delighted to see companies that we have had the pleasure of working with in recent years being recognised at the GPTW event as well. Our congratulations go out to everyone in Alkermes, AbbVie, Pramerica and Astellas. Collins McNicholas was recognised as the 9th placed organisation in the Great Places to Work small company category (20 – 100 employees). This is a fantastic achievement when you think that this is the category where most companies are positioned, as there are more than 80,000 SMEs in Ireland. Collins McNicholas is 26 years in business and having the right company culture has always been important to us. This award has special significance to us after a management buy out in 2015. We are proud to continue the great working culture that has been so central to Collins McNicholas’ success since it was founded by Colman Collins and Val McNicholas 26 years ago. The Great Places to Work Institute considers the defining feature of a great workplace as trust; where, as an employee, you are able to ‘trust the people you work with, have great pride in what you do, and you enjoy the people you work with.’ This is the environment that Collins McNicholas has long...Read More
